Essay on Native American Sound Instruments

Both religions take part in some kind of ritual for the gods. In Hinduism, people preform pujas to worship the gods with burned incense and lamps that are lit. People use small objects to represent the gods and they are called murtis. Pujas can be done in the home and in Hindu temples. When pujas are performed at home food called Prasad is offered to the gods, but in temples the food is passed out after the puja to the devotees and is blessed. However, in Native American religions people use dance as a way to contact the Spirit World. During these dances, people will play sacred flutes and beat on drums that are made of deer skin. Rituals are also performed

Although, the ritual has been passed on from generation to generation, how the Navajo rituals are ways of communication has been questioned by so many. Many believe that it way for the patient to come into “…harmony…

Hunting is something we've done since we've been on this planet. We used to do it out of necessity, but in the modern world we do it for many other reasons. As technology has increased, we have developed different methods of hunting. These methods have carried over to today, but two have prevailed: bowhunting and rifle hunting. These methods are both hunting--obviously--but they're different in almost every other sense. Bowhunting and rifle hunting are different based on the weapon used, the way you hunt, and your connection with the animal and the land around it; however, the same in the way the respective methods bring people together.

Native American music has many different musical styles. Within every Native American tribe there is a variety of musical styles and instruments. In response to the research that I have conducted, there are three main musical styles that are going to be my point of focus. The Sioux Grass Dance, the Zuni Lullaby, and the Iroquois Quiver Dance are the principal methods which contribute to Native American music.      

In the beginning, many native americans were killed, while Omaamikwe was guided by a spirit. Protecting Omaamikwe was the spirit’s task and succeeded. Then, after some time a drum came to Omaamikwe which was the big drum. Omaamikwe was instructed on all the songs and eventually the big drum society was formed. Today the big drum is a powwow drum which is very social to the people. The drum’s purpose is to bring people together at a powwow. Which is a gathering of people to celebrate their heritage. The arrival of the drum allowed people to communicate with spirits and was vital to their own spirituality. Such vitals were pleasure, healing, hunting, war, and ceremony to ensure the spirits were with them. A sound of thunder comes from the drum

Once we arrived at the event, Dawn Hemmingway started by making a few opening statements. Dawn’s opening statements were then followed by members of the Khast’an Drummers. There were four Lheidli T’enneh peoples drumming in total and they performed multiple songs. These songs had various different meanings and incorporated their values and culture. The general theme of their songs had quite somber and touching meanings due to the matter at hand. This was the first time I had witnessed the Lheidli T’enneh people perform. It was a very special moment for me, I felt honored to have witnessed them share their culture with everyone in the room.

Native American traditional medicine and spiritual healing rituals go back for thousands of years, these traditions often focus on different variations of alternative medicine. This knowledge is passed on throughout generations, many of the tribes learn that by mixing natural plants such as herbs and roots they can make remedies with healing properties. It is believed that being healthy is when people reach a state of harmony not only spiritually, mentally but physically. To be able to overcome the forces that cause illness people must “operate in the context of relationship to four constructs —namely, spirituality (Creator, Mother Earth, Great Father); community (family, clan, tribe/nation); environment (daily life, nature, balance); and self (inner passions and peace, thoughts, and values)” (Portman & Garret, 2006, p.453). In this research paper I am going to show evidence of the tremendous influence that Native American medicine and spiritual healing have over modern medicine in the course of healing

There was also an exhibit of a “Cheyenne Rattle” which is used to treat sick people. The shaman would waive the rattle over the ill member’s head and they would be relieved of the evil spirits draining his body. Shamans and their people believed in these magical items. They were strong enough to drive out unwanted forces and sustain protective ones. They would combine a physical object with a spiritual force that would heal them from their sickness. Like the peasant and folk artist from “peasants and folk artist”, shamans were involved in a tradition that put a lot of pressure on them to become healers of their people. Sometimes they would have to go through extremes, such as depriving themselves of food or removing a body part to gain sympathy

For most of my life, the word “Native American” had immediately made me think of feathers, powwows, and a society uncorrupted by civilization. However, in watching the movie Smoke Signals, a movie that depicts the modern Native American culture, I learned many other things. For one, I learned that many of the customs that modern Native Americans have are very similar to my own. I also saw that the family life of the Native Americans in the film had many of the same problems that my family had undergone in the past years. This film was unlike any that I have ever seen; therefore, it reached me on a very personal level.

An article titled Traditional Native Culture and Resilience dispels this pertinence through a personal narrative, “Cultural practices unlock our human potential. Sisoka Luta(Jerome Kills Small) states, ‘through the drum I feel the Native American part of my spirituality. I have a special bond with it. I know that a lot of the others find the greater part of their strength in other things like the sweatlodge and the pipe. For me, I get my strength from the drum” ( ).

American Indian life in the present time can be characterized as one big melting pot. Some societies try to preserve their own identity, while other groups came together in some way and brought their cultures together. A lot of what is known about their music has come from the past century when technological advancements were just beginning to take place. It was also during this period of time that there was a lot of turmoil between the whites. It was obvious that each tribe had its own musical identity, whether it dealt with style, uses of, or ideas of what music was. At that time there were thousands of groups, all speaking their own language, and each had several songs to accompany ceremonies, dances, and to divide society. Anthropologists have put them into categories according to their ways of life.

In the early days there was no doctor, so there were wise men or women that knew of many good home remedies. Remedies were verbally told from person to person, one generation to the next. This wise men or women were looked up on. Now this people are not very trusted, now that there is education and there’s actual books that show a person what can be taken and what should not. Now in days not many people go to a healer, they rather just go to a real doctor. This was a very big deal since this group has always been very traditional and has always wanted to keep their culture and customs going, without any outsiders coming and interrupting them.

Within the Indian societies of the Northwest Coast, the raven tends to act as a symbol of both unification and nourishment being that it aids “[clans] by providing them with a variety of useful things such as the sun, moon, fire, and salmon” (“Raven Rattle”). The utilization of such a symbol by the Tsimshian tribe in their ‘Raven Rattle’; in which was produced during the nineteenth century, shows the standard to which the raven is held within their culture. For the reason that rattles tend to be extremely intimate objects in which is only awarded to those who sit high up on social ladder; such as clan leaders (“Native American Rattles”). Within the Tsimshian tribe specifically, the ‘Raven Rattle’ had held the sole purpose of assisting the tribal members in channeling a shaman spirit guide and also during

Nicholas D. Kristof’s “For Environmental Balance, Pick Up a Rifle” suggests hunting deer because they kill a significant amount of humans each year. Kristof shows the statistics for the bear, wolf, and deer verse death of humans in the United States. Then, concludes that the deer kills more people because of the spread of lyme disease and car crash fatalities because of the docile deer. Sure, deer enjoy the spread of vegetation across surrounding city areas, but the problem is that they have multiplied since people are no longer hunting the deer. So, Kristof’s answer is, “Let’s bring back hunting,” this he says will balance the environment for humans. He quickly acknowledges the opposing side that feels hunting is archaic.

It can be observed that dance is an expressive language itself, that often goes beyond most expectations of a non-verbal language. No less can be said of the Prairie Band Potawatomie 2017 Pow Wow. It was a beautiful, sunny day and I was lucky enough to be accompanied by my husband, our son and his girlfriend, and my baby brother. As we arrived and exited our car we could already hear the sounds of Native American drums filtering through the air from the campgrounds. Even the entrance is a sight to see with its four-pillar metal arch that is decorated with a carved out rendering of the Prairie Band Potawatomie Nation Flag, complete with the four hanging feathers. After entering the camp grounds, one can see an array of